ODOT PUBLIC NOTICE

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is proposing to replace the two functionally deficient and structurally at-risk bridges on U.S. Highway 62 (US-62) over the Arkansas River in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. This project is currently scheduled to let for construction in the fiscal financial year of 2021. Temporary closure of the trail head of the adjacent Three Forks Trail (Trail) will be necessary during construction for the safety of all users of this Trail. Due to the proposed temporary occupancy of recreational property, Section 4(f) regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966 apply to the project. Section 4(f) affords protection to publicly-owned recreation areas (resources) including city, state, and national parks, wildlife refuges and management areas and historic sites.
ODOT has coordinated with the Muskogee City-County Port Authority (Port Authority) with regards to minimization of impacts of this project on the Trail, and the Port Authority is supportive of these measures. The cooperatively-determined plan which is being used to minimize impacts to the recreational features of the Trail includes the following:

ODOT has coordinated with the Muskogee City-County Port Authority (Port Authority) with regards to minimization of impacts of this project on the Trail, and the Port Authority is supportive of these measures. The cooperatively-determined plan which is being used to minimize impacts to the recreational features of the Trail includes the following:

• The overall construction is estimated at 548 days and the trail head will remain closed for most of that time. The closure will be temporary with no change in ownership.
• During the closure of the trail head, trail detour signs will be installed and the trail access will be rerouted around construction.
• Shoulders on East 21st Street North will be improved to provide eight to ten parking spots for daily trail users.
• Shoulders on the roadway under US-62 will be improved to allow smooth pedestrian travel.
• The Trail will be replaced in kind at its exact location with asphalt pavement and disturbed land surrounding the Trail will be fully restored.

Based on the cooperatively-developed plan, ODOT, in coordination with the FHWA, is proposing a temporary occupancy exception finding with regards to Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act (1966). ODOT welcomes your comments on the effects of this project on the projected activities, features, and attributes of the Trail (the Section 4(f) resource). Please mail or e-mail any comments you have by April 4, 2019 to: